THE BEST SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION. 21 



water, and the most direct application of it to the thirsty tree that it is 

 possible to devise." 



The difficulties that naturally suggest themselves in the way of com- 

 plete success in this plan are the liability to have the pipes stopped up, 

 either by tree roots or sediment. The advocates of the system claim that 

 both of these dangers have been anticipated by ample provision for either 

 guarding against or clearing obstructions of this kind. Nevertheless, it is 

 probable that in some localities obstructions similar to those named might 

 be serious drawbacks to the successful working of any system of conveying 

 water by pipes. But that all these hinderances will ultimately be over- 

 come, there seems little doubt. 



The Asbestine system is attracting wide attention at the present 

 time. Professor Cassiday makes favorable mention of it, and thinks that 

 at this altitude, where surface evaporation is rapid and water quickly 

 dissipated, for this and other reasons already pointed out, that "sub-irri- 

 gation offers positive advantages." At Gardenside we have tested the 

 method in a small way only, but see no reason why it may not succeed. 



It will be more fully tried here. But the man who has given it the 

 most thorough trial in Colorado is Mr. Gravestock, of Canon City, and 

 we have let him tell the results in his own words. 



If those interested would give this, or any similar invention, a trial, 

 first in a small way, under different conditions of soil and location, in a 

 few years we would be prepared to speak understandingly of its merits for 

 this region. 



SUB-IRRIGATION. 



CANON CITY, COLO., December 5th, 1887. 



Your letter is received. With reference to sub-irrigation, will just 

 say that this is the fourth season I have tried it, and I cannot speak too 

 highly of it. I have in only about a thousand feet, but enough to satisfy 

 me that when properly applied it is a grand success in Colorado. Had 

 not my fruit trees and grape vines been so old, I should have put my 

 whole place into sub-irrigation, but as my orchard and vineyard was full 

 of roots, I was afraid of doing it an irreparable injury by cutting too 

 many roots in digging trenches to lay the pipe. 



I have three short rows, of a little over 300 feet in length, to which I 

 have planted one row of standard pear, one row of plums, and a row of 

 grape vines between and each side of my fruit trees. All have made a 



